Canada Basketball keeps coaches

Canada Basketball made a couple of significant additions to its organizational structure Monday as well as announcing two-year extensions for senior men's head coach Leo Rautins and senior women's bench boss Allison McNeill.

Rautins has been in command since 2005 and led his squad to the World Championship in Turkey (after a surprising fourth-place finish at the FIBA Americas) this summer, its first appearance at the worlds since 2002, but the team failed to win a game there.

That, coupled with questions about Rautins' ability to synthesize Canada's significant up-and-coming teenage talent into the senior group, led to speculation about his future.

Canada's men's developmental squads have been doing very well internationally and a number of members of those teams are now entering the NCAA with high expectations.

Rautins said at a press conference players will get "every opportunity" to be integrated into the senior program.

Maurizio Gherardini, the Toronto Raptors executive and managing director of the senior men's side, said Rautins has done well so far.

"With the growing recognition of Canada Basketball on the international stage, Leo has done a quality job at managing our top level players, while developing some young talents," Gherardini said.

"By giving Leo the opportunity to coach the program through the quadrennial of 2012, we wish to put him in the best possible position to complete the development of some young players while striving for the ultimate goal."

Most observers believe a 2012 berth is a long-shot, but expect Canada to be able to field an imposing squad by the 2014 Worlds in Spain.

"It's a truly exciting time, Canada is creating a buzz at various levels now," Gherardini added.

Qualifying for 2012 will take place this summer.

McNeill, of Salmon Arm, B.C. is a former player who has coached the senior women's team since 2002, winning three bronze medals at the FIBA Americas Championship.

Michele O'Keefe, formerly the head of Ontario Basketball, is the new director of Basketball Operations for Canada Basketball, while veteran international coach Renato Pasquali moves from assistant coach with the senior men's team to technical director.